2014 will be the EU-Russia Year of Science, Technology and Innovation

The European Union and Russia are not only neighbours, but also strategic partners. The 30th EU-Russia summit bore witness to the importance both sides attach to this strategic partnership.

President Barroso announced that 2014 will be 'EU-Russia Year of Science, Technology and Innovation'.This reflects the importance of research cooperation between the EU and Russia: The Russian Federation has been by far the most important third country partner in the seventh research framework programme. There are currently 440 Russian participants in 264 signed grant agreements, receiving an EU contribution of €60 million. The EU-Russia Year of Science will feature a series of high-level EU-Russia conferences in several areas of the next framework programme, Horizon 2020. The purpose of the year-long series of events, to be jointly organised across the EU and Russia, is to enhance the already vibrant science & technology cooperation between the EU, its member states and the Russian Federation.